GHSTLY XXVI returned to music in the closing months of last year, and he’s been consistent ever since. He’s been drip-feeding the bangers at a steady rate, covering various subject matter and adding an extra dimension with quality videos. ‘Business‘ and ‘Chat‘ demonstrated his soundman style and finesse in full effect; ‘Trust‘ proved he could tell a story and pull back the forth wall with deeper content, the visual a welcome boost for the people that hadn’t heard it the first time around.
His latest track – titled ‘Flex’ – is produced by Filthy Gears and was released at the end of February, making its way to streaming services last week.
‘Flex’ is a lesson in delivery. The track – essentially based around his microphone presence – is spat with an undeniable assurance and flair, as GHS stretches out certain words only to cut them off abruptly, jumping into the next verse with the power of a champion hurdler. It’s a technique grime emcees have been using for an age, and when done correctly it makes the lyrics pop from the speakers, highlighting those subtle nuances that add vigour to grime tracks. The instrumental, made up of loping AMS lines, gives GHS the space to navigate the pockets with ease.
Overall, ‘Flex’ is another great track from GHSTLY XXVI, and it seems the break from releasing music has served him well. Each track from this new era of his career has been a win, and here he takes some long-standing tropes of grime and executes them with a precision that could only come from an artist at the top of their game.
Photo by Levi Williams
Video
Stream
The Art of Grime 